Camera for taking instantaneous color photographs



J. ZIMMER June 25, 1935.

CAMERA FOR TAKING INSTANTANEOUS COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS Filed April 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l J72 van-tor:

w no 4 H w 4 M w 1 1 I 7 9 w s M 3 n 53 3 n 0 I 7 J 1 7 z June 25, 1935. J. ZIMMER 2,006,007

CAIERA FOR TAKING INSTANTANEOUS COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS Filed April 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J72 vwzfor:

Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica CAMERA FOR TAKING INSTANTANEOUS COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS Josef Zimmer, Nurburg, near Ahrweiler, Germany Application April 12, 1933. Serial No. 665,629

In Germany April 19,1932

8 Claims.

10 tographs.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide a camera of this kind with a device for sharply iocussing the object which is tobephotographed. It is obvious that the iocussing operation could be efiected by the aid of one of the light distributing mirrors by causing the mirror to reflect a part oi the incident light on to a focussing screen placed in'the position of a sensitive layer. Although this method is possible, it has the great drawback that the camera is not ready for taking a photograph immediately alter the focussing operation.

According to the present invention the aforesaid object is attained by providing, in addition to the light-transmitting distributing mirror or mirrors, and between these and the objective, one or more mirrors not capable of transmittinglight and serving for tocussing the image oi the object on a iocussing screen. The particular one of the last-named mirrors located nearest to the ob-, jective is connected with a cloth roller-blindof known kind containingan exposure opening and serving as a shutter and a device for adjusting the time 01 exposure, in such. manner that upon releaseof the roller-blind the mirror which does not transmit light is removed from its operative position. By means of this arrangement it is rendered possible on the one hand to' carryout the iocussing operation when the light sensitive layers are already in position for exposure, 1. 0. when the dark slides containing them have al ready been brought into position and opened. On the other hand the releasebi the roller-blind and consequently the exposure of the sensitive layers can take place immediately after the locussing operation. This is important not only generally for the photographing 01' moving objects, but also particularly for the photographing oi the iris oi the eye, in view 01' the fact thaton account of the great liability to rapid motion of the eye, the period of time betweenthe moment when the sharpest focus is obtained and the moment of exposure o! the sensitive layers must be as small as possible. Q

When photographing the iris of the eye the iocussing operation as also the exposure is preferably carried out by artificial light, in which case a weaker source of light is employed for the focussing operation in order to avoid a detrimental eiiect on the eye. The two sources of light may be arranged on the camera itself. The stronger source of light for the exposure may be adapted to be automatically put inoperation dependently on the movement oi the roller-blind or the iocussing mirror respectively by providing the movable mirror with a switch member adapted to close an electric circuit.

Two preferred constructional forms of a. camera according to the invention are illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a camera according to the first constructional form,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section corresponding thereto, and g Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a camera according to the second constructionalform, the parts being shown entirely diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings:

The body 4 of the camera is provided on its front wall with a powerful objective 5 of known kind, whilst in its rear wall and in its base suitable openings i'or the insertion oi dark slides 6, l are provided, which contain the light sensitive layers 8, 9, l0. In the interior oi the body 4 a light distributing mirror ll consisting, for example, of a superficially silvered glass reflector is arranged at an angle to the optical aids of the objective, which distributing 'mirror leads the rays of light incident upon it partly towards the sensitive layers 9, i0 arranged in the dark slide 1 at the bottom, for example, to a layer sensitive to blue light and a layer sensitive to yellow-green light located behind the former, whilst theremaining part oi. the beam of light passes through the mirror II to the sensitive layer 8 arranged on the rear wall in the dark slide 6, which lastnamed layer may,'ior -example, b e sensitive to red rays. The supports of the sensitive layers 0, 9 and Ill may consist, as iscustomary, of thin films, glass plates or other suitable supporting means.

Between the objective 5 on the one hand and the light distributing mirror I I on the other hand, a second mirror I2 is arranged which, in contradistlnction to the distributing mirror II, is incapable oi' transmitting light. The mirror I! is arranged at an angle oi45" to the optical axis of the objective and serves the purpose of deflecting the incident light upwards on to a focusing screen I3 provided in an opening of the cover of the camera body I for the purpose of enabling the focussing operation to be efiected. In order to be able to observe the image on the focusslng screen properly a light screening member I4 which is adapted to be folded up and is of known type is arranged on the cover of the camera body. The non-light transmitting mirror I2 is mounted so as to be movable up and down ina vertical direction, for example, by means of two guide rails I5 provided on the right and left hand side of the mirror respectively. The said mirror can thus be removed upwardly out of the position for focussing shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in order to allow the beam of light passing through the objective to reach the distributing mirror II and the light sensitive layers 8-H] when it is desiredto take the photograph. Inthe position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, however, the non-light transmitting mirror I2 shuts off the objective 5 from the light transmitting mirror I I and the light sensitive layers. In order to obtain a reliable light closure an opaque bellows. closed all round is inserted between the focussing mirror I2 and the focussing screen I3, the said bellows being extended dure f ing the focussin'g operation and being closed up when the mirror I2 is removed from its working position. Q

The non-light transmitting mirror I2 is connected to a cloth roller-blind I6 of known kind, which is guided immediately behind the objective 5 and "is provided with an exposure opening I1.

The said roller-blind isfwound up on a roller I8 mounted in the camera body 4 below the objective 5, the said roller I8 being adapted to be turned from the exterior in the winding-up direction, for example by means of a knob I9. From the fo missing mirror I2 attached to the upper end of the roller-blind I6, two cords or bands 20 pass upwards, which are guided over guiding rollers 2| to a winding-uproller 22 which is provided with a spring serving for the rotation of the roller, the

said spring being adapted to'be'wound up from.

outside, for example bymeans oi. a knob 24. The spring 23 is maintained in the tension'ed condition by mean's 'of a locking member which is releasablefrom the exterior. After the release of the locking member the roller 22 isturnedlb'y the} spring 23, whereby th e bands 20 are wound up on the roller 22, with the result that thefocus sing mirror I2 is moved upwards out of the optical axis of the obje'ctivajand' the roller blind li winding'off from the roller I8 is carried past the objec} tive 5 so that its exposure opening I! passes the objective and the exposure of the light sensitive layers takes place. The tirne'of exposure can be regulatedin'known manner byadjusting the tension of the tension spring" 23, by braking or the like. 7

ment to carry out thelfocussingfoperation which can be effected .eitherby' adjustment of theobjective 5, or by displacement of thewhole camera 'or by simultaneous adjustment of the objective and displacement of the camera-after immediately after thefiocussing operation so that the least possible period or time elapses v between the focusing operationfand the expo sure of the lightsensitive layers.

When the camera is principally intended for As can be seen, it ispossible with this arrange photographing the iris of the eye, two artificial sources of light, for example electric lamps 26, 21, are provided, the one lamp 26 being adapted to provide the less powerful light for the focussing operation and the other lamp 2! the stronger light for the photographing operation. The lamp 2! may, if desired, also be replaced by an electrically ignited flash lamp. Whilst the 0- cussing lamp 26, which may continue to burn during the exposure, can be switched in and out directly by hand, an automatic switch is provided for the lamp 2! supplying the light for the photographing operation, the said switch switching in and out the lamp for the time period of the exposure. For this purpose there may, for example, be provided on the focussing mirror I2 an insulated contact member 28 which co-operates with two contacts 29, 30 which are fixed on the camera body 4 and are arranged in the circuit of the lamp 21. and the roller-blind I6 are movedupwards by the roller 22 rotated by the spring 23, the contact 28 passes right throughv between the two contacts 29, 30 connecting thelatter temporarily with one another, and thus switches the lamp When the focussing mirror I2 21automatically in'and out, again. If desired an automatic switch controlled by the focussing mirror I2 may'likewise be provided for the focussing body of the camera for example on opposite sides of the objective 5 on the front wall of the said body 4. The light from thelamps isif neces be photographed, namely the eye indicated. in

Fig. 2. If desired the lamps 26, 21 may, howlamp 26, the said switch being adapted to close the circuit of the lamp 26 when the mirror I2 is located in the operative position. v The two lamps 26, 21 are arranged at different places on the.

ever, also be arranged in such manner that they projecttheir light directly forwards onto the object so that the condensers 3|, 32 and mirrors 33, 34 are dispensed with. I

The focu'ssing screen I 3 may be arranged vertically instead of horizontally. In this case it is arranged as shown in Fig. 3 in an opening of the back wall of an extension 36 of the camera body 4. 'In this case it isthen, of course, necessary to provide in addition to the focussing mirror I2 located immediately behind the objective 5 a second non-lightjtransmitting mirror In which reflectsthe upwardly projected beam 0!,

light' coming from themirror I2 to the rear on to the focuss'ing screen II. This second mirror ,I2a' is stationary whilstthe mirror I2 is movable in a vertical direction and is connected with the roller-blind I8 containing the exposure opening. From Fig.3 it 'will likewise be seen that the arrangement'is also applicable for the .iocussing of the object with a multi-color camera. of the kind provided with two light distributing mirrors I I and Ila arranged one behind the other. .In

this case the three light sensitive layers l-IO are all arranged at difieren't places, namely one on the bottom, one ontherear wall and one on the cover of thejcamera body 4. The layer. 9 is illuminated by the part or the beam oilightreflected from theflrst mirror I I, the layer I! by the part reflectedby. the mirror Na and the layer I 8 by the remaining part or the beamof light.

Thecq struction or the light distributing mirrors II and Ila is unimportant for the invention. The said mirrors can, as already indicated 7'5 with regard to the first constructional example, all or in part consist of superficially silvered glass mirrors which, if desired, for the purpose of avoiding the parallax, are colored complementarily to the color sensitiveness of those light sensitive layers which are exposed to the parts of the beam of light reflected by them, or they may consist all or in part of film mirrors which may likewise be colored. Finally the mirrors may be arranged so that they can be flapped over in order to move them out of their operative position when, as is easily possible, uni-color photographs are to be taken with the camera by employing only one light sensitive layer arranged on the rear wall of the camera body 4. The focussing mirrors l2, l2a may also be of any known construction. They may. for example, consist of superficially silvered, but non-transparent glass mirrors, or, if desired, of metal mirrors.

I claim:

1. In a camera for taking instantaneouscolor photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of: a focussing screen; at least one light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror, arranged behind the objective of the camera at an angle to the optical axis thereof, movable transversely to the said axis, and reflecting incoming light-rays on to said focussing screen; a shutter comprising a cloth roller-blind provided with an exposure opening and connected to said mirror in such manner that said roller-blind and said mirror move together with one another; an electrically operated source of light mounted on the camera and illuminating the object to be photographed; stationary contacts on the camera connectedin the circuit of said source of light; and an insulated switch member mounted on said mirror and adapted to connect said contacts during the movement of said mirror and said roller-blind to close the circuit of said source of light transitorily.

2. In a camera for taking instantaneous color photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of: a focussing screen; at least one light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror, arranged behind the objective of the camera at an angle to the optical axis thereof, movable transversely to the said axis, and reflecting incoming light rays on to said focussing screen; a shutter comprising a'cloth roller-blind provided with an exposure opening and connected to said mirror in such manner that said rollerblind and said mirror move together with one another; an electrically operated source of light mounted on the camera and illuminating the object to be photographed; stationary contacts on the camera connected in the circuit of said source of light; an insulated switch member mounted on said mirror and adapted to connect said contacts during the movement of said mirror and said roller-blind to close the circuit of said source of light transitorily; and a second source of artificial light of lower power than said first named one, said second source serving for providing the necessary illumination for the focussing operation.

3. A camera for taking instantaneous color photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, comprising in combination: a camera body; an obective on said camera body; a focussing screen on said camera body; at least one light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror, arranged behind said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof, movable transversely to the said axis, and reflecting light rays on to said focussing screen; a shutter comprising a cloth rollerblind provided with an exposure opening and connected to said mirror in such manner that said roller-blind and said mirror move together with one another; an electrically operated source of light mounted on the camera and illuminating the object to be photographed; stationary contacts on the camera connected in the circuit of said source of light; an insulated switch member mounted on said mirror and adapted to connect said contacts during the movement of said mirror and said roller-blind to close the circuit of said source of light transitorily; and a second source of artificial light of lower power than said first named one; said second source serving for providing the necessary illumination for the focussing operation, substantially as described.

4. A camera for taking instantaneous. multicolor photographs, comprising in combination: a camera body; an objective on said camera body; a focussingscreen on said camera body; at least one light-transmitting distributing mirror arranged behind said objective and co-oper ating therewith to distribute the light passing through said objective on to a plurality of independent light sensitive layers; at least one lightreflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror artilineally movable transversely to the said axis,-

and reflecting incoming light rays on to said focussing screen; a shutter comprising a cloth roller blind provided with an exposure opening and having one end attached to said light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror; pull members likewise attached to said last named mirror; a pull and wind-up roller connected to said pull members; and a wind-up spring associated with said roller.

5. In a camera for taking instantaneous multicolor photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of a camera body; means for arranging on said body at least two sensitive layers at an angle to one another; an objective on said camera body; at least one light-transmitting distributing mirror arranged behind said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof and co-operating therewith to distribute the light passing through said objective, when an exposure is made, on to the sensitive layers; a focussing screen on said camera body; at least one movable light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror arranged between said lighttransmitting distributing mirror and said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof, said movable mirror being arranged in said camera body in such manner that when it is in its operative position it screens off said distributing mem ber from the objective and throws the incoming light on to said focussing screen; a shutter associated with said objective; and means for moving said light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror in dependence on the movement of said shutter.

6. In a camera for taking instantaneous multicolor photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of: a camera body; means for arranging on said body at least two sensitive layers at an angle to one another; an objective on said camerabody; at least one light-transmitting distributing mirror arranged behind said objective at'an angle to the optical axis thereof and cooperating therewith to distribute the light passing through said objective, when an exposure is made, on to the sensitive layers; a focussing screen on said camera body; at least one lightreflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror arranged between said light-transmitting distributing mirror-and said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof, said mirror being slidably displaceable rectilineally in a direction transverse to the optical axis of'the objective and being arranged in said camera body in such manher that when it is in its operative position it screens off said distributing member from the objective and throws. the incoming light on to said focussing screen; a shutter associated with said objective; and means for moving'said lightreflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror in dependence on the movement of said shutter.

7. ma camera for taking instantaneous multicolor photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of: a camera body; means for arranging on said body at least two sensitive layers at an angle to one another; an objective on said camera body; at least one light-transmitting distributing mirror arranged behind said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof and co-operating therewith to distribute the light passing through said objective, when an exposure is made, on to the sensitive layers; a focussing screen on said camera body; at least one movable light-refiecting, but not light-transmitting mirror arranged between said light-transmitting distributing mirror and said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof, said movable mirror being arranged in said camera body in such manner that when it is in its operative position it screens oii said distributing member from the objective and throws the incoming light on to said focussing screen; a shutter associated with said objective, said shutter comprising a cloth-roller-blind provided with an exposure opening and connected to said movable mirror; and means'for moving said light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror transversely to the direction of the optical axis of said objective in dependence on the movement of said shutter.

8. In a camera for taking instantaneous multicolor photographs, more particularly photographs of the iris of the eye, of the type set forth, the combination of: a camera body; means for arranging on said body at least two sensitive layers at an angle to one another; an objective on said camera body; at least one light-transmitting distributing mirror arranged behind said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof and co-operating therewith to distribute the light passing through said objective, when an exposure is made, on to the sensitive layers; a focussing screen on said camera body, said focussing screen having an operative field of precisely the same dimensions as those of each of the operative fields of the sensitive layers; at least one movable lightreflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror arrangcd'between said light-transmitting distributing mirror and said objective at an angle to the optical axis thereof, said movable mirror being arranged in said camera body in such mannerthat when it is in its operative position it screens off said distributing member from the objective and throws the incoming light on to said focussing screen; a shutterassociated with said objective; and means for moving said light-reflecting, but not light-transmitting mirror in dependence on the movement of said shutter;

JOSEF ZIMMER. 

